It’s no secret getting flights from Australia to the USA, or the opposite is getting extremely difficult to travel to, especially in a premium cabin. The route is popular with both tourists and business people making it an extremely popular route.
The route can be VERY expensive for both off-peak and peak seasons which isn’t affordable for many. Luckily points bring down the price dramatically. However, it takes some patience, persistence, and flexibility.
Qantas
Departure Ports:
Queensland
- Brisbane – Los Angeles QF15/16 & QF55/QF56
New South Wales
- Sydney – Los Angeles – New York QF11/QF12 (A380 & 787-9)
- Sydney – San Fransisco QF73/74 (747-400)
- Sydney – Dallas QF7/QF8 (A380)
- Sydney – Honolulu QF3/QF4 (A330-300 & A330-200)
Victoria
- Melbourne – Los Angels QF93/94 & QF95/QF96 (A380 & 787-9)
What are the best points to use?
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- First Class – 70,000 points one-way in First Class
- Business Class – 55,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy – 47,500 points one-way in Premium Economy
- Economy Class – 42,500 points one-way in Economy
American Airlines AAdvantage
- First Class – 110,000 points one-way in First Class
- Business Class – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy –
- Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way in Economy Class
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- First Class – 144,000 points one-way in First Class
- Business Class – 96,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy – 72,000 points one-way in Premium Economy
- Economy Class – 41,900 points one-way in Economy Class
he Qantas A380 has a total of 484 seats with 14 First Class suites, 64 Business Class seats, 35 Premium Economy seats and a total of 371 Economy Seats.
The First cabin is in a 1-1-1 configuration with every seat featuring a pitch of 79” and a width of 22.” The Business cabin is fitted out in a 2-2-2 configuration and feature a pitch of 78”and width of 21.5.” The Premium Economy cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration and every seat has a pitch of 38-42” and a width of 19.5.” The Economy cabin of the A380 is configured in a 3-4-3 layout and the seats have a total pitch of 31” and a width of 17.5.”
![a woman talking to a woman in an airplane](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Martin-Grant-First-range-Oct16-03-1.jpg)
Qantas A380 First Class (Image – Qantas)
The 747 is only used on two routes and it features 3 cabins, Business, Premium and Economy and totals 364 seats. The Business cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration except for the nose area and top deck where the cabin is 2-2. These seats feature a pitch of 60” and a width of 21.5.” The Premium Economy cabin is fitted out in a 2-4-2 layout, these seats feature a pitch of 38” and a width of 19.” The Economy cabin is the exact same specs as the A380 above.
![an airplane on the runway at night](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/19708148743_b25081cb57_o.jpg)
Qantas 747
The 787 Dreamliner is Qantas’ baby and it offers the best Business product out of all the other QF aircraft. The 787 features a Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabin totalling 236 seats. The Business cabin is configured in a 1-2-1 layout with each seat having a pitch of 46/80” and a width of 24.” The Premium Economy cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration and those seats feature a pitch of 38” and a width of 20.5.” The Economy cabin is in a 3-3-3 configuration and the seats have a pitch of 32” and a width of 17.2.”
![a row of seats with monitors on the back](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_8528.jpg)
Qantas 787 Business Class
Qantas’ A330-300 and -200 aircraft are very similar product with only a few differences being the fabric covering on the Business suites and the overall amount of seats on the actual aircrafts. The -300 features a total of 297 seats split into a Business & Economy cabin. The Business cabin consists of 28 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. These suites have a pitch of 73” and a width of 23.” The Economy cabin if laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration with the seats having a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.”
The A330-200 features a total of 28 suites in the same configuration but these ones feature a pitch of 78” and a width of 21.5.” The Economy cabin is also laid out the same way but these seats have a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.5.”
Virgin Australia
Departure Ports:
- Brisbane – VA7/VA8
- Sydney – VA1/VA2
- Melbourne – VA23/VA24
What are the best points to use?
Virgin Australia Velocity
- Business Class – 95,500 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy – 71,700 points one-way in Premium Economy
- Economy – 44,800 points one-way in Economy Class
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
- Business Class – 132,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy – 96,000 points one-way in Premium Economy
- Economy Class – 59,000 points one-way in Economy Class
Virgin Australia’s 777-300ER’s feature a total of 339 seats spread across 3 cabins, Business Premium Economy and Economy Class. The Business cabin contains 37 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 24 Premium Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and 278 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
![an airplane with rows of seats](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_4581.jpg)
Virgin Australia 777 Business Class
The Business suites have a pitch of 76-80” and a width of 23”, Premium Economy seats have a pitch of 41” and a width of 18.5” while the Economy seats feature a pitch of 32” and 18.5” for the width.
![a row of seats in an airplane](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/img_4592.jpg)
Virgin Australia 777 Premium Economy
American Airlines
Departure Ports:
- Sydney – AA72/AA73
What are the best points to use?
American Airlines AAdvantage
- Business Class – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy –
- Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way in Economy Class
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Business Class – 170,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Premium Economy – 127,500 points one-way in Premium Economy
- Economy Class – 60,400 points one-way in Economy Class
American’s 787-9 Dreamliner has a total of 285 seats spread 4 cabins but only 3 are bookable with points, Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The Business cabin consists of 30 seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout and 234 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.
The Business Class seats have a pitch of 61-77” and width of 21”, The Premium seats have a pitch of 38” and a width of 19 and the Economy seats feature a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.2.”
American Airlines 787-9 Business Class
United Airlines
Departure Ports:
- Sydney – Los Angeles UA842/UA843 (787-9)
- Sydney – San Fransisco UA870/UA871 (787-9)
- Melbourne – Los Angeles UA99/UA100 (787-9)
What are the best points to use?
United Airlines MileagePlus
- Business – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way In Economy Class
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
- Business Class – 130,000 points one-way in Business Class
- Economy Class.- 60,000 points one-way in Economy Class
![a close-up of a plane seats](https://pointsfromthepacific.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1200678-56e7bd0651c44bfbb3b71e9c767f2254-united-boeing-787-businessfirst-business-class-flipper-1.jpg)
United Airlines 787 Business Class